On Veterans Day we celebrate our military from every service and every generation. Freedom requires people of character to stand up for America…no matter the challenge.
This Veterans Day, the Jedburgh Podcast, the Jedburgh Media Channel and the Green Beret Foundation are proud to announce our partnership with the University of Health and Performance outside of Bentonville, Arkansas.
Dedicated to providing our transitioning service members with the skills needed to build careers in health and fitness, and as entrepreneurs, UHP is leading the way in showing private industry just how valuable our Veterans will be for the next generation of America.
While at UHP, Fran Racioppi had the chance to sit down with Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the youngest Governor in America and one of only 13 female Governors across the country. Governor Sanders is a staunch advocate for up-skilling transitioning Veterans and is working hard to ensure Arkansas has the resources and job opportunities to bring Veterans to the state.
The Governor and Fran discussed her Veterans initiatives, her outlook now that the 2024 election is decided, and how it is incumbent upon all leaders to bring the country together to get things done for the American people.
The Jedburgh Podcast and the Jedburgh Media Channel are an official program of The Green Beret Foundation. Watch, listen or read all our Veterans Day coverage. Follow the Jedburgh Podcast and the Green Beret Foundation on social media. Listen on your favorite podcast platform and watch us on YouTube as we show why America must continue to lead from the front, no matter the challenge.
*The opinions presented on the The Jedburgh Podcast and the Jedburgh Media Channel are the opinions of my guests and myself. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Green Beret Foundation and the Green Beret Foundation assumes no liability for their accuracy, nor does Green Beret Foundation endorse any political candidate or any political party.
—
Governor, thanks for joining me on The Jedburgh Podcast.
Thanks for having me.
We’re at University of Health and Performance, Northwest Arkansas, right outside of Bentonville. It’s my first time here. I have to admit it, what an amazing place. We flew in. We flew over the Ozarks. I’ve only seen the show, so I was able to see everything firsthand, but it’s incredible here. Incredible to have you here and incredible to have Senator Boozman and be talking about the importance of Veterans Day. Why is it so important to you and Arkansas?
What they have been able to do and create here is so important. We’re so proud to have it in Arkansas. Matt, who’s the CEO and founder of UHP has done a great job of building a place that helps our veterans transition from serving in the military and then going into the workforce. That’s something that we value in Arkansas. We know that there’s some of the most highly trained, loyal, and mission-oriented people that you can find.
It makes perfect sense to want to put them into the workforce. Creating an atmosphere that allows us to keep veterans in Arkansas is a great thing and proud to support it. Also, most importantly today and every day, having the opportunity to thank our veterans in person for the service and sacrifice that they’ve made is such a big deal and such an honor to be part of.
Upskilling our veterans comes to mind when you talk about that because so many times, we have to realize that when our service ends, it’s just a chapter in the book. We have so much more to give. The global war on terror and its intent and purpose by definition is over. We could argue and have a discussion at much longer time than we have here about who we are at war with and what is on the horizon for us.
I would argue we still have a terrorism fight, but we have so many of that global war on terror generation that is now getting out. They’ve hit their twenty plus years and they’re coming into the workforce. What are the opportunities now that you look at across the state that says, “We’re going to invest in you to bring you here to Arkansas?”
A program like what they have at UHP, which allows those veterans to take the skills that they learned in their military service and transition and then put them into the day-to-day workforce. Regular application is such a great thing and they can do it very quickly. That’s one of the things that makes it so beneficial and helpful. We also know that if they’re doing a training program like this in the state, it’s a lot more likely that they’re going to stick around in Arkansas. We want this to be the best place for veterans to call home. A program like this helps catapult us to the top of the list.
You are the first female Governor in Arkansas. After the election, we’re going to have thirteen female Governors across the country. Why is putting women in these executive positions across the country so important to our nation?
I think anytime that we can empower people across the board. It’s important to have that different perspective. Women are great multi-taskers. A lot of us manage our household, a business, our families, and so many other things. Having women in leadership is critical to the long-term success of our country.
For every rural girl that is growing up in the US, they should have somebody that they can point to and say, “I can do that. I wanted to do that.” Empowering women in every position is very important and I’m glad to see that we’re expanding that in government. I’m glad to be the first women to leave my state as well.
My daughter turned fifteen and she reminds me of what you just said. That, “Dad, how can I do only one thing?” My wife reminds me, too. You’re right. We’ve just come out of one of the longest election cycles certainly in history. We talked about the divisiveness of the country. It is divided in so many ways. At least, we haven’t gone back to the days of the 1800s, when Aaron Burr shot his opponent, but President Trump was shot at. We’re very fortunate that ended the way it did. What’s next for the country on the back end of this election? Where are we going from here?
What we saw this past week was such a decisive win by President Trump. It shows that these are policies that people want. At the end of the day, people don’t want the government intruding into every aspect of their lives. Frankly, they want to be left alone. They want a president who understands that. They also want somebody who is respected on the global stage. Somebody that are allies respect and that our enemies fear.
We saw that take place at the ballot box. People want to secure borders. They want to know that we have a law-and-order country. Those are the big policies that you saw people vote on when they cast their ballots. Those are going to be the things that you’ll see President Trump in acting on a regular basis as he takes the mantle back again at the White House in January.
In Special Forces, in the military, we talk a lot about having input from every level. We’re very fortunate on Special Forces Teams. You got a 12 million team. Everybody gets to say, but when the decisions are made, everybody gets in line. As you said, decisively the decisions have been made. Now, how do we get everybody in line? What’s the message that says, “The country spoke. Now let’s just come together and do this?”
If I know how to get the other side in line, it would make my life a lot easier. One of the important things is that we have to focus on things that everybody can agree on and things that lift our country up. Remember at the end of the day who our enemies are and it’s not the people within our own communities, states, and neighborhoods. Our biggest adversary at this point is China. We have to remember who we’re up against and that’s where we need to focus our fire. That’s where we need to focus our drive and our competitiveness. It’s not against each other, but remember where the enemies are and that’s not within our own country.
I could talk to you all day about China, but we’ve got a great event that we got to get you. I appreciate coming out
here. Amazing Veterans Day, to have the opportunity to come to the University of Health and Performance, and spend it in Arkansas. I know I’m coming back. I want to go through this program and I want to spend some more time. I appreciate your leadership, both at the state level, and the national level. Thank you for everything you’ve done.
Thank you very much and thank you for your service.
Thanks.
